Epilogue

EPILOGUE

N INE CHILDREN WERE currently rolling in the snow outside the chalet high in the mountains of Divio. Muffled shrieks and laughter made their way into the kitchen where Beau stood hip to hip with her sister making a stew that would feed both their families tonight as they watched the goings-on from the large window.

It was moments like these, perfect, beautiful, crystallized togetherness—with the kids just far enough away not to be demanding all her attention—that Beau could feel completely full up with love and joy and relief that this was the life she got to lead.

Cristhian and Lyon were outside, dutifully pulling the younger children in sleds, aiding in the construction of snowmen, and breaking up fights that looked as if they'd turn physical in equal measure.

Five of the children outside were Zia's, and she would introduce a sixth in the coming months. Beau thought of her own pregnancy. Still new enough only Lyon knew so far, but they'd had a doctor's appointment before they'd herded the children up to the chalet for the holiday. All was well, and Beau wanted to tell her sister.

But for a moment, she just watched her husband and her children. Her brother-in-law and her nieces and nephews. And allowed herself to be filled with gratitude.

Things had not always been smooth sailing, even after she'd gone back to Divio with Lyon. They had endured some growing pains as a newly married couple, and balance had been a slow, laborious process for them both to get comfortable with. There had been some difficulty getting pregnant with their first child. But then Lucia had come into the world, perfect and vibrant—with Beau's hazel eyes and Lyon's serious mouth.

She hadn't fixed everything, but the first grandchild Lyon had given his mother had certainly eased some of the bitterness between Beau and the countess.

With more children came more struggles, but more love. More hope. More joy. As a family, they had grown and evolved and loved . As a country, Divio had learned it could lean on Lyon as a leader. Also not smooth sailing. As Lyon had attempted to open up his country to more modern ways of thinking, allowing their eldest to be their heir despite being a girl, opening avenues of discussion about the importance of mental health, there had been stiff opposition. Much mudslinging. But Lyon had remained firm and fair, and the excellent leader he was. And he had been right, if they worked together, they could accomplish anything.

Since more citizens than not wanted these changes, parliament was hard-pressed to completely ignore the will of the people.

So Beau and Lyon had remained the crown prince and princess, popular with many. Particularly as their family grew.

"Do you ever sit back and pat yourself on the back?" Zia asked her. They had finished the stew preparations, but still stood watching their families play.

"For what? Still having my hearing?"

Zia laughed. But she turned to Beau. "This all began with you. You helped me escape the castle for my weekend of freedom before I was supposed to settle down and marry Lyon. If you hadn't done that, I never would have met Cristhian."

"But if it wasn't for you running away, I never would have met or married Lyon."

"Technically, that was Father's doing."

"And Father is the one who hired Cristhian to find you. I guess we should be patting him on the back."

They shared and a look and then laughed.

"Never," Zia said firmly.

"Then I suppose we shall have to pat ourselves on the back for being brave enough to search for much better than he wanted for us."

"I like that," Zia said with a nod of her head. She looked outside once more, then gave Beau a sideways look. She leaned in close. "Are you pregnant?"

Beau scowled. "You never let me tell you!"

Zia shrieked and clapped her hands together, engulfing Beau in a hug. "Oh, they'll be so close together." Though age hadn't really mattered when it came to the Traverso and Sterling cousins. The pack were as close as siblings, begging to see more of each other all the time so that Zia and Cristhian had agreed to spend a good deal of their time in Divio these past few years.

Still, it was nice. To be in the same place, to share their experiences. No longer protectors or martyrs to each other. Just sisters. Living a wonderful life.

Zia pulled back, studied Beau's face. "My brood is still going to outnumber yours."

Which made Beau grin. Because that wasn't true at all. "Try again. I'm having twins this time. We'll be tied."

Zia laughed, then squeezed her tight again.

They had loved and protected each other first, and now they got to share in the love they'd learned how to share with their husbands, their children.

And when a pile of snow-covered children came rushing in, demanding warmth and food, followed by two snow-covered truly good men, Beau knew that all the romance books she'd always and still loved to read were right.

Love was everything.

Did Princess Bride Swap leave you wanting more?

Then you're bound to love the first installment in the Rebel Princesses duet His Hidden Royal Heirs

And why not dive into these other Lorraine Hall stories?

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The Forbidden Princess He Craves

Playing the Sicilian's Game of Revenge

A Diamond for His Defiant Cinderella

Italian's Stolen Wife

Available now!

Keep reading for an excerpt from After-Party Consequences by Heidi Rice.